Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson Fieldwork Opportunity

FORT ANDERSON DIG PHOTOGRAPHS

Langley, Rickey L. and Lawrence E. Abbott, Jr., Health and Safety Issues in Archaeology: Are Archaeologists at Risk?. North Carolina Archaeology 49: 23-42 (2000).

Beaman, Thomas E., Jr., Linda F. Carnes-McNaughton, John J. Mintz, and Kenneth W. Robinson, Archaeological History and Historical Archaeology: Revisiting the Excavations at Brunswick Town, 1958-1968. North Carolina Archaeology 47:1-33 (1998).

Fesler, Garrett R., Matthew R. Laird, and Hank D. Lutton, “Beautiful Confusion:” The Archaeology of Civil War Camp Life in an Urban Context. In Huts and History: The Historical Archaeology of Military Encampment During the American Civil War, edited by Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves, pp. 216-243. University Press of Florida, Gainesville (2006).

Geier, Clarence R., David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves, “I Am Now Very Comfortably Situated for the Winter Having a Very Nice Chimney Attached to My Tent, and Everything That Tends to Make This Unhappy Life Pleasant and Agreeable.” In Huts and History: The Historical Archaeology of Military Encampment During the American Civil War, edited by Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves, pp. 5-27. University Press of Florida, Gainesville (2006).

Lee, E. Lawrence, Jr., Old Brunswick, The Story of a Colonial Town. The North Carolina Historical Review 29(2): 230-245 (1952).

Nelson, Dean E., “Right Nice Little House[s]”: Winter Camp Architecture of the American Civil War. In Huts and History: The Historical Archaeology of Military Encampment During the American Civil War, edited by Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves, pp. 177-193. University Press of Florida, Gainesville (2006).

Reeves, Matthew B. and Clarence R. Geier, Under the Forest Floor: Excavations at a Confederate Winter Encampment, Orange, Virginia. In Huts and History: The Historical Archaeology of Military Encampment During the American Civil War, edited by Clarence R. Geier, David G. Orr, and Matthew B. Reeves, pp. 194-215. University Press of Florida, Gainesville (2006).

South, Stanley A., Excavation Report – Fort Anderson Barracks, Excavation Unit N18. Report on file, North Carolina Office of State Archaeology, Division of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resources, Raleigh (1959).

The Coe Foundation for Archaeological Research in cooperation with Peace College Archaeological Field School at Brunswick Town and North Carolina Historic Sites is offering field work opportunities for a limited number of volunteers. Location: Brunswick Town State Historic Site Session dates:

May 26th - May 30th 2009
June 2nd- June 6th 2009
June 9th- June 13th 2009

Application Deadline: May 1, 2009. Because space is limited to 5 volunteers at a time, it will be first come first serve with preference given to multi-day volunteers. To register, complete the form that came in the Spring 2009 Newsletter, or the electronic form here.

CFAR Program Contact:
Richard Webb (919) 815-8103 or dwebb002@earthlink.net
Coe Foundation
PO Box 25311
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-5311
Email: coefoundation@gmail.com

Brunswick Town North Carolina has a rich history. The land was first occupied by the Tuscarora People. After the Tuscarora War (1711-15), English Colonists moved into the area and in 1726 founded Brunswick Town. Brunswick Town rapidly became an important port for exporting forest products. Within a decade Brunswick Town was the official port of entry for the Cape Fear River. It became the political center of southeastern North Carolina and remained so until William Tryon moved to New Bern around 1770. The town was burned in 1776 by the British. In 1862 the Confederate Army began building Fort Anderson, later to be the site of a Union attack in 1865. Archaeological investigations were begun by Dr. Stanley South in 1958 and yielded a wealth of important artifact studies. Brunswick Town is now maintained as a State Historic Site, including a museum, colonial-era foundations and Civil War earthworks. Dig participants will learn basic archeological techniques including survey, excavation and materials processing. The Coe Foundation will be sponsoring educational talks during the dig.

All recovered artifacts are the property of the state of North Carolina.

Historic archaeologist and Peace College Adjunct Assistant Professor Thomas E. Beaman, Jr. will direct the field school and coordinate on-site volunteers. Additional direction will be provided by Peace College Assistant Professor, Dr. Vincent Melomo and Dr. Billy Oliver, Adjunct Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University and director of the Office of State Archaoelogy Research Center.

On-site lunch will be provided. You will be responsible for transportation, lodging or other meals Information on area lodging will be posted on our web site.

Minimum Age: 16
No previous experience required

More information about Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson will be available on our website at Coe-Foundation.org and at the NC Historic Sites web page at Brunswick Town Historic Site.